Stipple No More

In an attempt to compress the background around appliqué or quilted motifs, quilters are continually looking for other creative choices besides good old tried-and-true stippling or loops and circles.  

I have numerous books in my library dedicated to background fills.  My favorites include:

• Trillium House Designs Pocket Guide to Freehanding by Darlene Epp
  
• Absolutely Fabulous Echoed Blossoms and Blooms (with a follow up on Nature Naturally) by Janet Hanson.  I talked with Janet this week and she will sell the books for $16.00 each including shipping or both books for $30.00 including shipping.  If you are interested, please send a check directly to Janet at this address:

               Janet Hanson
               8427 172nd Ave. NE
               Forest Lake, MN  55025

• Fun with Shapes by Cozy Creations
  

Then there are the online tutorials.  Both of these talented women work on a domestic machine and are inspirational:

• Leah Day - check out her 400 free motion quilting designs plus videos
  
• The Inbox Jaunt by Lori Kennedy - Lori specializes in motif fills and shows lots of examples of how they can be used as background fill.  Her tutorials are here.

Over the years I have found the trick to executing many of these fills is practicing on a whiteboard or even just a pad of paper and a good pen.  Keep drawing the fill until you feel comfortable with it.  Sometimes it may take many sheets of paper to reach that "comfort level".  Occasional, I never got there -- my brain just couldn't recreate the shape.  My advice based on painful experience ... DO NOT START QUILTING UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED THAT COMFORT LEVEL.  

Background Fills with a Computerized Machine

I love my APQS Millennium with Intelliquilter.  The computer helps a lot with execution of precise designs.  It works particularly well for pantographs, borders, block designs and motifs.  However it can be a challenge when it comes to fillers around applique or embroidery.  However it can be done!  

This week I decided to design my own creative fill using Art and Stitch.  This particular fill was for a Halloween themed quilt made by Pat C.  I used Art and Stitch software to draw the fill.

I want to do a special shout out and thank you to Carol Best for her advice on how to apply a Creative Fill with two separate applique shapes in a block.  Her steps are included in my video.

Almost Finished Halloween Quilt

Check out the finished project (minus a few embellishments to be added by Pat.  I used the "Man in the Moon" filler around the Hat and Spider.  For other fillers, I did some freehand work.  This was my first freehand work since the broken wrist -- and I must admit that I was feeling very grateful that I have the computer to assist with most of my quilting.

Man in the Moon Creative Fill

Stars and Circles Background Fill - Freehand

Swirls Background Fill - Freehand.

No computerized system -- the Man in the Moon design can also be done freehand.Check out this 50 second video that shows how to stitch out a freehand filler of the design.  There is no audio on this one.  Try the design on paper and let me know how it goes.

True confession -- after finalizing the video above and finishing the stitch out of the design from the video, I wished I had taken a little more time to actually connect up the motifs.  The following video also provides you a suggestion on drafting and placement of a continuous line creative  Man in the Moon fill.

Man in the Moon Stitch Out by Kari Schell

Featured Pattern - Ferris Wheel

I happened on a carnival last weekend.  As usual, my eyes were drawn to the Ferris wheel and I was tempted (just a little) to try it out.  Perhaps you will think of this pattern the next time the carnival is in your town.

Purchase here.

When going to the fair as a child, the ferris wheel was my favorite ride.  I loved the view at the top and enjoyed colorful lights late at night.  This quilt can be made with 8 fabrics or the medium and dark fabrics may be made from scraps.  If made from scraps, Charms work for the Dark; and Fat Eighths or Fat Quarters for Medium 1 and 2.  

Finished sizes:  

• Wall Hanging (36″ x 36″)
  
• Lap (66″ x 90″)
• Queen (90″ x 90″)
  
• King (114″ x 114″)

Recommended (optional) Tools:   

• Tucker Trimmer™ by Studio 180 Design
  
• Corner Pop™ by Studio 180 Design

Happy quilting.

Kari

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